The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-04-13
THAT EASTER BONNET.
By FANNY FOSTER CLARK.

She leaned back luxuIiously against some
bright sofa cushions, she talked in a saucy,
amusing way, she gave roguish glancss
from her fine gray eyes, and she was lazily
eating a tutti-frutti. Mr.. Winford Hollis
sat near by, returning her banter, and
bending toward her with such show of
homage as a polished steel shirt front per-
mits TO the modern knight, and he, too
was eating tutti-frutti.
Take care, Miss Leroy" he said, as the
young lady emphasized a remark with her
spoon, you'll scatter the ice over your
pretty dress"
Never mind" answered Miss Leroy,
gaily; this is only n Lenten dress, and
next Sunday will be Easter"
'Humphl pale blue satin penitential
robe eh % remarked the old gentleman
who Iounged up and leaned on the back of
the sofa He was man of sixty, with a
well-preserved, sinister face a languid
manner aud as 10 dress a tailor's model
t'Oh yesl" he went on, lin Lent ladies wear
something cllnging, subdued, sanity, sent
out direct from Worth, and with q heav-
emily suggestion of angels wings in the
fiutterings of real laces, for-we mourn our
sins. Then for entertainment we have
music and ices; no dancing or punch. for
we fast and pray. En-, Miss Leroy?" and
be regarded her through mis- half-closed
eyelids.
"You understand Us women perfectly"
"Ab, Miss Leroy, there's only one in the
world whom l care to understand he
said, with deep sigh and a meaning
glance.
"Ah, Mr. Wells, how eappy she should
be in your preference" and she sighed
deeply in return.
Then Mrs. Isherwood, the hostess, came
busting along and cried, "Such a naughty
girl TO sit in corner when everybody is
asking for your Whereupon Miss Leroy
was borne away.
Wells, still leaning across the sofa-back,
watched the two ladies until they passed
through the curtained doorway; then he
laughed little, sneered little, and finally
exclaimed: Lord Lord Hollis, what
creatures these society women are!
They're like mechanical dolls that can
squeak out a set of words, courtesy, take
short walk, and the rest is steel, brass and
furbelogs'
You're a lovely child OF nature to
cTiticise the insincere and artificial" an
sWertd Hollis.
''rve been forty years in what the news.
papers call our upper circles" said Wells,
"and I'm the graduated pupil of these
Charming society women, with their ready
wit, their Paris aud London made piety,
their discreet 1ndIscretions.'
Don't you believe" asked Hollis, that
u WOudu may D6 cApcuSlNC
and given to social gayety, yetlhave good
ness and gentleness in her nature?"
my dear boy" replied Wells, screwing
up the end of his waxed mustache, "can a
peach be tossed from hand to hand yet
keep its bloom? Bah no. A fashion
able girl, like our lovely Miss Leroy, for
instance, is like the diamond she wears
glittering polished, beautiful, and hard
through and through"
Mr.. Winford Hollis shrugged his shoul-
ders and said: sit may be. How is poor
devil of a bachelor to find out?"
take the word of an old campaigner,"
said Wells, clapping him on the shoulder.
"You are rich, handsome, clever. Keep
your freedom, my boy; don't marry.
Look at me-"
Il do look at you" answered Hollis,
frankly, land the sight isn't pleasant"
then be turned on his heel and wandered
of to Mrs. Isherwood's deserted billiard
room. There he sat down with his face to
the wall and his hand thrust deep into his
pockets. His cogitations we're about Miss
Leroy, and were something in this wise:
"Yes; she's a heartless fiirt. Why,
she actually sighed and languished
when that old Wells whispered
his rubbish to her. And yet how gentle
and womanly she looks sometimes! Pshawl
merely physical accident. She happens
to have fine eyes By the way, wish her
eyes wouldn't haunt me; its very disagree
able. Humphl she'd marry me, perhaps, for
my money; then. If day of adversely
cemes-what then? Indifference, disgust
parting. No; the mother of my children
shall never be a mercenary woman. I'm
perhaps rather chilly and sarcastic myself
but then it's such bad form to display sen
timent and feeling. Pshaw" he was get
ting by this time very much wrought up
MAY Leroy is cold, wicked woman o.
the world, tickle, heartless, cruel, and
s'Come. this won't do, Mr.. Hollis" said {
voice from Just behind his chair. Mrs
sherwood wants everybody in the draw
sne-room.n
He jumped up, faced about, and Their,
stood Miss Leroy herself, her soft draperie
and fair hair just touched by the shaded
light in the room, her eyes meeting hi
steadfastIy and tenderly; in her face
grave sweetness.
Hollis instantly forgot mis- bitter reaec
tons, and cried, holding out his hands to
ward her, May, May, L" But the pre-
cepts OF Mr.. Wells intruded, and the love
hesitated. Whereupon Miss Leroy brok
into q light laugh; then Hollis Laughed
too. and, deity utilizing his indiscreet out
burst, said in a mock-heroic fashion, "May
oh, may I-have the pleasure of escortin,
you to .5e drawing-roomr"
"What delightful fraud you arelp sais
May, as she took his arm.
"You are the delightful fraud" he an
Ewered, very pointedly.
ss0t cQl5en she said, saUcily, s'yQU don